International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 22 067

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 22 067

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications for the International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) Program under Funding Opportunity Number RFA AI 22 067. This is a discretionary health research opportunity funded as a cooperative agreement (U19), meaning awardees should expect substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the life of the project. The FOA is explicitly marked "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so the supported work must be structured as research that does not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, even if it involves human data or samples (for example, observational studies or non-interventional research, depending on how the project is designed).

At its core, the ICEMR Program is meant to build and sustain a multidisciplinary, international network of research centers based in malaria-endemic settings. The research focus is twofold. First, centers are expected to deepen understanding of malaria pathogenesis, epidemiology, and transmission, which can include questions about how infections cause disease, how malaria spreads in real-world environments, and how patterns of risk change across seasons, geographies, and populations. Second, centers are expected to generate evidence that evaluates and optimizes interventions and informs the development of new tools and strategies aimed at malaria control, elimination, and eventual eradication. In practical terms, the program is designed to link basic, translational, and population-level research so that findings can directly shape the way malaria programs and future technologies are designed and used.

A defining feature of this FOA is where and how the work must be carried out. The supported research is intended to be conducted primarily in countries where malaria is endemic, and the application must demonstrate significant involvement of local and regional researchers in the study design, development, and execution. This is more than a general encouragement of collaboration; the program is structured to ensure that endemic-country investigators and institutions are integral partners with meaningful roles in leadership, scientific decision-making, and implementation. Proposals that rely heavily on external leadership without clear, substantive engagement and capacity integration in-country would be misaligned with the intent of the initiative.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and multiple categories of minority-serving and tribal-serving institutions, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. This wide eligibility reflects the program's goal of building strong, locally grounded consortia that can combine scientific depth with operational reach in endemic settings.

From the funding details provided, the award ceiling is listed as $800,000, and the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 93.855. The original application closing date was May 4, 2023, and the FOA record shows a creation date of November 22, 2022. As a cooperative agreement, applicants should plan for an active partnership model with NIH, where milestones, data sharing expectations, and coordination across the broader ICEMR network are often central to how the program operates. Overall, this opportunity is aimed at supporting well-integrated research centers that can produce actionable knowledge about malaria biology and transmission while strengthening research leadership and capability in the regions most affected by the disease.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AI 22 067

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